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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Heating works, works not, works...
        
(Message started by: tlundkvi on Jan 28^th, 2009, 9:46am)

Title: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Jan 28^th, 2009, 9:46am

Hi all,

I have an interesting problem with my 24V. Most often, the heater blows hot air when needed, but sometimes I get only cold air blowing, although temp is on 29 or HI, and it's freezing cold inside. Sometimes, restarting the car immediately restores desired functionality. Although not 100% tested, but the heater not working is more likely when the car is started and idling for a while before I start driving.

I would suspect a fuse or the actual heater matrix normally, but then heating should not work at all, right? Could it be some sort of a relay that is confused?

Is this a known problem? What could be wrong? (AC panel is replaced and working).

Thanks for any help! (just -2 degrees and getting colder :))

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Jonnycab on Jan 28^th, 2009, 12:13pm

Have you tried resetting the climate control ?.......http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/ccreset.htm :)

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Jan 29^th, 2009, 6:52am

on 01/28/09 at 12:13:41, Jonnycab wrote:

Have you tried resetting the climate control ?.......http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/ccreset.htm :)

Tried a full recalibration, so far it seems to work, have to see for a few days if the problem was fixed by it.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Feb 9^th, 2009, 7:05am

on 01/29/09 at 06:52:02, tlundkvi wrote:

Tried a full recalibration, so far it seems to work, have to see for a few days if the problem was fixed by it.

Thanks!

Have now done the recalibration twice, the heating still goes on & off all the time. Sometimes when the heating has been on for a while, it starts to blow cold again. Sometimes setting it on OFF and on again helps, but not always. I get no error codes, the only codes I have ever seen on the display are 00, 50 and 52, last time I checked only 00 and 50.

If the heater matrix is broken, there should not be any heat at all, right? How could it possibly even fail? A loose connection to a sensor/element, based on the error code list it should trigger a fault code? Could this have anything to do with coolant?

Only thing I could think of now is the control box. Or a loose connection somewhere...

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Simmo on Feb 9^th, 2009, 8:00am

Have you checked the heater blower control?. Here (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/hbctest.htm ).

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Feb 9^th, 2009, 8:42am

I could do the test, but just to make sure, is this a separate thing from the fan blowing cold air (e.g. controlling hot air coming from the heater matrix)? I ask, because fan speed does not change in any way, I get full range, the system just stops heating blowing freezing cold air into the car. The problem occurs both on auto and manual fan speed. The car has the automatic AC.

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Jonnycab on Feb 9^th, 2009, 10:04am

Could be that the SATC unit (behind the control panel) is faulty......http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/aircon/satcdescription.pdf....... :)

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Feb 9^th, 2009, 10:53am

Does anyone know how exactly the amount of heat is regulated? Is it some form of a regulated valve to the heater matrix (like the thermostats in heater elements in apartments) regulating how much fluid is allowed to circulate?

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Jonnycab on Feb 9^th, 2009, 11:19am

There is no regulator valve in the matrix, the only reason that the matrix may go cold is because of a blockage. Have you checked that the matrix outlet hose is consistantly nice & hot like the inlet hose ? :)

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Tompion on Feb 9^th, 2009, 12:01pm

Further to what Jc says the regulating is done via flaps combining hot & cold air.

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by wumpster on Feb 9^th, 2009, 6:31pm

i once had a simalar problem om me merc it was the temp sensors in the heater box in the end giving a false reading every now and again the scorp does have sensors but cant remember where they are

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Simmo on Feb 9^th, 2009, 8:44pm

Does THIS (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/acindex.htm) help Wumpster. Says they are in the heater housing.

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Mar 15^th, 2009, 6:24pm

Problem is solved. It is a bit embarrassing for me to tell, because it's a thing you should check regularly. The reason was low coolant fluid level, approximately 1-1.5 litres low, but enough for the laws of physics to cut out the heater matrix every now and then. Ran a complete flush and changed fluid and now it heats up after a few minutes, even faster than many newer car.

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tve on Mar 15^th, 2009, 9:03pm

Bravo! ;D

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by Simmo on Mar 15^th, 2009, 9:18pm

Well done. Good to know that the problem is solved and thanks for letting us know the reason as it may help someone in the future. ;)

Title: Re: Heating works, works not, works...
Post by tlundkvi on Mar 16^th, 2009, 6:45am

Just to add, if the temperature rises slightly at the same time as the heating stops (need not be on the "red" area), the reason is most probably the coolant or a circulation problem. I was told most cars are like this by design, i.e. the heater matrix has the toughest resistance in the circulation system to protect the engine.